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〃Hello！〃 cried Tom； awakening the next morning to find the sun
streaming into his tent。 〃We must have overslept； Ned。 We were to
start before old Sol got in his heavy work； but we haven't had breakfast
yet。〃
〃I didn't hear any one call us；〃 remarked Ned。
〃Nor I。 Wonder if we're the only lazy birds。〃 He looked from the tent
in time to see Mr。 Damon and the professor emerging。 Then Tom noticed
something queer。 The canoes were not on the river bank。 There was
not an Indian in sight； and no evidence of Jacinto。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked the young inventor。 〃Have the others
gone on ahead？〃
〃I rather think they've gone back；〃 was the professor's dry comment。
〃Gone back？〃
〃Yes。 The Indians seem to have deserted us at the ending of this
stage of our journey。〃
〃Bless my time…table！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃You don't say so！ What
does it mean？ What has becomes of our friend Jacinto？〃
〃I'm afraid he was rather a false friend；〃 was the professor's answer。
〃This is the note he left。 He has gone and taken the canoes and all the
Indians with him；〃 and he held out a paper on which was some scribbled
writing。
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CHAPTER XIII
FORWARD AGAIN
〃What does it all mean？〃 asked Tom； seeing that the note was written
in Spanish； a tongue which he could speak slightly but read indifferently。
〃This is some of Beecher's work；〃 was Professor Bumper's grim
comment。 〃It seems that Jacinto was in his pay。〃
〃In his pay！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Do you mean that Beecher
deliberately hired Jacinto to betray us？〃
〃Well； no。 Not that exactly。 Here； I'll translate this note for you；〃
and the professor proceeded to read：
〃Senors： I greatly regret the step I have to take； but I am a gentleman；
and； having given my word； I must keep it。 No harm shall come to you； I
swear it on my honor！〃
〃Queer idea of honor he has！〃 commented Tom； grimly。
Professor Bumper read on：
〃Know then； that before I engaged myself to you I had been engaged
by Professor Beecher through a friend to guide him into the Copan valley；
where he wants to make some explorations； for what I know not； save
maybe that it is for gold。 I agreed； in case any rival expeditions came to
lead them astray if I could。
〃So； knowing from what you said that you were going to this place； I
engaged myself to you； planning to do what I have done。 I greatly regret
it； as I have come to like you； but I had given my promise to Professor
Beecher's friend； that I would first lead him to the Copan valley； and
would keep others away until he had had a chance to do his exploration。
〃So I have led you to this wilderness。 It is far from the Copan； but
you are near an Indian village； and you will be able to get help in a week
or so。 In the meanwhile you will not starve； as you have plenty of
supplies。 If you will travel northeast you will come again to Puerto
Cortes in due season。 As for the money I had from you； I deposit it to
your credit； Professor Beecher having made me an allowance for steering
rival parties on the wrong trail。 So I lose nothing； and I save my honor。
〃I write this note as I am leaving in the night with the Indians。 I put
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
some harmless sedative in your tea that you might sleep soundly； and not
awaken until we were well on our way。 Do not try to follow us； as the
river will carry us swiftly away。 And； let me add； there is no personal
animosity on the part of Professor Beecher against you。 I should have
done to any rival expedition the same as I have done with you。
JACINTO。〃
For a moment there was silence； and then Tom Swift burst out with：
〃Well； of all the mean； contemptible tricks of a human skunk this is the
limit！〃
〃Bless my hairbrush； but he is a scoundrel！〃 ejaculated Mr。 Damon；
with great warmth。
〃I'd like to start after him the biggest alligator in the river；〃 was Ned's
comment。
Professor Bumper said nothing for several seconds。 There was a
strange look on his face； and then he laughed shortly； as though the humor
of the situation appealed to him。
〃Professor Beecher has more gumption than I gave him credit for；〃 he
said。 〃It was a clever trick！〃
〃Trick！〃 cried Tom。
〃Yes。 I can't exactly agree that it was the right thing to do； but he； or
some friend acting for him； seems to have taken precautions that we are
not to suffer or lose money。 Beecher goes on the theory that all is fair in
love and war； I suppose； and he may call this a sort of scientific war。〃
Ned wondered； as he looked at his chum； how much love there was in
it。 Clearly Beecher was determined to get that idol of gold。
〃Well； it can't be helped； and we must make the best of it；〃 said Tom；
after a pause。
〃True。 But now； boys； let's have breakfast； and then we'll make what
goods we can't take with us as snug as possible； until we can send the
mule drivers after them；〃 went on Professor Bumper。
〃Send the mule drivers after them？〃 questioned Ned。 〃What do you
mean to do？〃
〃Do？ Why keep on； of course。 You don't suppose I'm going to let a
little thing like this stand between me and the discovery of Kurzon and the
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idol of gold； do you？〃
〃But；〃 began Mr。 Damon； 〃I don't see how〃
〃Oh； we'll find a way；〃 interrupted Tom。 〃It isn't the first time I've
been pretty well stranded on an expedition of this kind； and sometimes
from the same causethe actions of a rival。 Now we'll turn the tables on
the other fellows and see how they like it。 The professor's right let's
have breakfast。 Jacinto seems to have told the truth。 Nothing of ours is
missing。〃
Tom and Ned got the meal； and then a consulta